Author Chris Warren-Dickins
@chriswarrendickins.bsky.social
Author, psychotherapist & parent in Ridgewood, New Jersey. | BEYOND YOUR CONFINES & THE BEAST OF GLOOM are available now. | Posts ≠ therapy/advice. exploretransform.com
Healing can only happen when we address both the trauma and the addiction. In therapy, we do this in a non-shaming way. We understand the why of the behavior, and we appreciate that we survive in whatever way we can.
October 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Healing can only happen when we address both the trauma and the addiction. In therapy, we do this in a non-shaming way. We understand the why of the behavior, and we appreciate that we survive in whatever way we can.
I often tell my clients here in New Jersey: Addiction isn’t about the substance. It’s about what the substance is soothing.
Many people are trying to quieten the trauma responses that were never understood, never validated, and never healed.
Many people are trying to quieten the trauma responses that were never understood, never validated, and never healed.
October 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I often tell my clients here in New Jersey: Addiction isn’t about the substance. It’s about what the substance is soothing.
Many people are trying to quieten the trauma responses that were never understood, never validated, and never healed.
Many people are trying to quieten the trauma responses that were never understood, never validated, and never healed.
When someone turns to substances, they’re not just “making bad choices.”
They are trying to cope with pain that their nervous system hasn’t been able to process.
In this video, therapist Jamie Willis and I discuss the unique challenges of trauma and addiction:
youtu.be/ZOkQQX7jnI8?...
They are trying to cope with pain that their nervous system hasn’t been able to process.
In this video, therapist Jamie Willis and I discuss the unique challenges of trauma and addiction:
youtu.be/ZOkQQX7jnI8?...
October 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
When someone turns to substances, they’re not just “making bad choices.”
They are trying to cope with pain that their nervous system hasn’t been able to process.
In this video, therapist Jamie Willis and I discuss the unique challenges of trauma and addiction:
youtu.be/ZOkQQX7jnI8?...
They are trying to cope with pain that their nervous system hasn’t been able to process.
In this video, therapist Jamie Willis and I discuss the unique challenges of trauma and addiction:
youtu.be/ZOkQQX7jnI8?...
A collaboration between a psychotherapist and a speech and language pathologist can make a profound difference. In this video, I discussed this need for collaboration with speech-language pathologist Laura Grube:
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
October 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
A collaboration between a psychotherapist and a speech and language pathologist can make a profound difference. In this video, I discussed this need for collaboration with speech-language pathologist Laura Grube:
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
Therapists like me help with fear, shame, or trauma behind the silence.
Speech therapists can help with expressive and receptive language.
This kind of dual support can be life changing.
Speech therapists can help with expressive and receptive language.
This kind of dual support can be life changing.
October 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Therapists like me help with fear, shame, or trauma behind the silence.
Speech therapists can help with expressive and receptive language.
This kind of dual support can be life changing.
Speech therapists can help with expressive and receptive language.
This kind of dual support can be life changing.
Did you know that psychotherapy and speech therapy often work best together?
In this video, I discussed this need for collaboration with speech-language pathologist Laura Grube:
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
In this video, I discussed this need for collaboration with speech-language pathologist Laura Grube:
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
October 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Did you know that psychotherapy and speech therapy often work best together?
In this video, I discussed this need for collaboration with speech-language pathologist Laura Grube:
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
In this video, I discussed this need for collaboration with speech-language pathologist Laura Grube:
youtu.be/WeDbYaEcwvM?...
Have you ever wondered why you shut down during a stressful experience? Do you apologize even when you’ve done nothing wrong? Do you stay in unhealthy situations out of guilt or fear?
These might be trauma responses.
These might be trauma responses.
October 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Have you ever wondered why you shut down during a stressful experience? Do you apologize even when you’ve done nothing wrong? Do you stay in unhealthy situations out of guilt or fear?
These might be trauma responses.
These might be trauma responses.
Have you ever wondered why you shut down during a stressful experience? Do you apologize even when you’ve done nothing wrong? Do you stay in unhealthy situations out of guilt or fear?
These might be trauma responses.
These might be trauma responses.
October 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Have you ever wondered why you shut down during a stressful experience? Do you apologize even when you’ve done nothing wrong? Do you stay in unhealthy situations out of guilt or fear?
These might be trauma responses.
These might be trauma responses.
Trauma responses aren’t overreactions. They’re survival strategies.
When something painful or overwhelming happens, especially repeatedly, your brain learns how to protect you.
When something painful or overwhelming happens, especially repeatedly, your brain learns how to protect you.
October 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Trauma responses aren’t overreactions. They’re survival strategies.
When something painful or overwhelming happens, especially repeatedly, your brain learns how to protect you.
When something painful or overwhelming happens, especially repeatedly, your brain learns how to protect you.
Depression might feel like you’re stuck in a fog. You’re unable to shake this heaviness, this disconnection from things you used to enjoy.
Depression doesn’t have one face, and it doesn’t always come with obvious signs.
Depression doesn’t have one face, and it doesn’t always come with obvious signs.
October 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Depression might feel like you’re stuck in a fog. You’re unable to shake this heaviness, this disconnection from things you used to enjoy.
Depression doesn’t have one face, and it doesn’t always come with obvious signs.
Depression doesn’t have one face, and it doesn’t always come with obvious signs.
Depression often feels like an invisible weight, but the truth is, you don’t have to carry it by yourself.
Whether it’s a lingering sadness, a sense of numbness, or struggling to get through the day, it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not weak, you’re human.
Whether it’s a lingering sadness, a sense of numbness, or struggling to get through the day, it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not weak, you’re human.
October 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Depression often feels like an invisible weight, but the truth is, you don’t have to carry it by yourself.
Whether it’s a lingering sadness, a sense of numbness, or struggling to get through the day, it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not weak, you’re human.
Whether it’s a lingering sadness, a sense of numbness, or struggling to get through the day, it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not weak, you’re human.
Depression isn’t just “feeling sad.” It can look like anger, irritation, disconnection, fatigue, excessive guilt, struggling to get out of bed, or an inability to focus.
October 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Depression isn’t just “feeling sad.” It can look like anger, irritation, disconnection, fatigue, excessive guilt, struggling to get out of bed, or an inability to focus.
At what point do you speak up about your feelings and needs? When you are already experiencing burnout? If so, that might be too late. Studies show that burnout thins the gray matter of your prefrontal cortex, and it can enlarge the amygdala.
October 1, 2025 at 12:04 PM
At what point do you speak up about your feelings and needs? When you are already experiencing burnout? If so, that might be too late. Studies show that burnout thins the gray matter of your prefrontal cortex, and it can enlarge the amygdala.
Do you ever say “no” and then feel guilty? Do you wish you could say “no” but don’t know how? You’re not alone. Many of us, especially in high-pressure careers, have learned from an early age to prioritize the convenience or comfort of others over our own needs.
October 1, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Do you ever say “no” and then feel guilty? Do you wish you could say “no” but don’t know how? You’re not alone. Many of us, especially in high-pressure careers, have learned from an early age to prioritize the convenience or comfort of others over our own needs.
Assertiveness is not aggression. It’s about knowing that your feelings and needs matter. It’s also about expressing those feelings and needs, and listening to others.
October 1, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Assertiveness is not aggression. It’s about knowing that your feelings and needs matter. It’s also about expressing those feelings and needs, and listening to others.
Signs you might need stronger boundaries:
You feel exhausted after social interactions.
You say “yes” to avoid conflict.
You take on responsibilities that aren’t yours.
You feel resentful but stay silent.
Sound familiar?
You feel exhausted after social interactions.
You say “yes” to avoid conflict.
You take on responsibilities that aren’t yours.
You feel resentful but stay silent.
Sound familiar?
September 30, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Signs you might need stronger boundaries:
You feel exhausted after social interactions.
You say “yes” to avoid conflict.
You take on responsibilities that aren’t yours.
You feel resentful but stay silent.
Sound familiar?
You feel exhausted after social interactions.
You say “yes” to avoid conflict.
You take on responsibilities that aren’t yours.
You feel resentful but stay silent.
Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever felt guilty about saying “no,” you’re not alone.
Many of my clients here on the East Coast come into therapy feeling burnout out. It isn’t because they don’t care. It’s because they care too much, and at the expense of themselves.
Many of my clients here on the East Coast come into therapy feeling burnout out. It isn’t because they don’t care. It’s because they care too much, and at the expense of themselves.
September 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
If you’ve ever felt guilty about saying “no,” you’re not alone.
Many of my clients here on the East Coast come into therapy feeling burnout out. It isn’t because they don’t care. It’s because they care too much, and at the expense of themselves.
Many of my clients here on the East Coast come into therapy feeling burnout out. It isn’t because they don’t care. It’s because they care too much, and at the expense of themselves.
Boundaries are how we teach others how to treat us. More importantly, they protect our energy and preserve our sense of self. So why do so many people, especially here on the East Coast, confuse boundaries with selfishness?
September 30, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Boundaries are how we teach others how to treat us. More importantly, they protect our energy and preserve our sense of self. So why do so many people, especially here on the East Coast, confuse boundaries with selfishness?
September 29, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Imposter syndrome won’t go away just because you achieve more.
September 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Imposter syndrome won’t go away just because you achieve more.
Do you spend many days at work feeling like you have to ‘earn’ your place there?
If so, you are dealing with imposter syndrome.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many of us feel this way, and no matter how hard others try to convince us, we still don’t believe in our worth.
If so, you are dealing with imposter syndrome.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many of us feel this way, and no matter how hard others try to convince us, we still don’t believe in our worth.
September 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Do you spend many days at work feeling like you have to ‘earn’ your place there?
If so, you are dealing with imposter syndrome.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many of us feel this way, and no matter how hard others try to convince us, we still don’t believe in our worth.
If so, you are dealing with imposter syndrome.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many of us feel this way, and no matter how hard others try to convince us, we still don’t believe in our worth.
“I just got lucky.”
“I don’t belong here.”
“Any minute now, they will figure out that I have no idea what I am doing.”
These are classic phrases spoken by someone with imposter syndrome, and, in my work as a psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, I hear them all the time.
“I don’t belong here.”
“Any minute now, they will figure out that I have no idea what I am doing.”
These are classic phrases spoken by someone with imposter syndrome, and, in my work as a psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, I hear them all the time.
September 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
“I just got lucky.”
“I don’t belong here.”
“Any minute now, they will figure out that I have no idea what I am doing.”
These are classic phrases spoken by someone with imposter syndrome, and, in my work as a psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, I hear them all the time.
“I don’t belong here.”
“Any minute now, they will figure out that I have no idea what I am doing.”
These are classic phrases spoken by someone with imposter syndrome, and, in my work as a psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, I hear them all the time.
One of the many reasons why I love polyvagal theory is because it is visually stunning. I have found it immensely helpful to learn that our 'symptoms' are simply our body and mind trying to keep us safe.
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
September 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
One of the many reasons why I love polyvagal theory is because it is visually stunning. I have found it immensely helpful to learn that our 'symptoms' are simply our body and mind trying to keep us safe.
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
Many EMDR therapists use polyvagal theory to help someone understand that their body and mind are responding in a certain way because it is biologically built to do this.
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
September 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Many EMDR therapists use polyvagal theory to help someone understand that their body and mind are responding in a certain way because it is biologically built to do this.
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...
Learn more:
www.exploretransform.com/therapy-blog...